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Every year on the final Thursday of the Cannes Film Festival, celebrities, business tycoons and socialites leave the famous Croisette and travel to the luxurious Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Antibes for the annual amfAR Gala, one of the festival’s most glamorous charity events. The gala raises funds for AIDS research. This year’s event is hosted by Geena Davis, with performances expected from Robbie Williams, Lizzo and Zara Larsson. Since 1985, amfAR has raised nearly $950 million (841 million euros) for AIDS-related programmes and funded more than 3,800 research grants worldwide. The Associated Press has been covering the event for more than 10 years and will livestream arrivals from the gala on Thursday from 1600 GMT on YouTube and APNews.com. Getting to the exclusive venue is no easy task. Guests need special car passes to approach the hotel, while taxis and limousines slowly move through narrow French coastal roads before reaching the famous gates. Visitors are repeatedly reminded not to leave their cars and walk the final stretch to the venue. After entering, guests receive wristbands and assigned table numbers before joining another line for the red carpet, where celebrities and invited guests pose together for photographers. Others quietly skip the spotlight and enter from the back. Beyond the red carpet, guests move to the hotel’s scenic lawn overlooking the sea, with yachts visible offshore as the sun sets. Bars serve Champagne, cocktails and wine, while waiters offer snacks and DJs play soft music. Celebrity encounters are common throughout the evening. Last year, Spike Lee and Adrien Brody were seen chatting over Champagne. Inside the gala, artworks are displayed before being auctioned later in the evening to raise money for charity. At around 8 pm, organisers begin calling guests into the dinner tent, though many continue socialising and taking photos before finally heading inside. Last year, Jeff Bezos drew attention as he moved between tables greeting guests. Dinner continues late into the night alongside the charity auction. This year’s auction items include a walk-on role in season six of the hit TV show Emily in Paris, a seven-day Arctic adventure with explorer Inge Solheim, and artworks by Tracey Emin and Andy Warhol. One of last year’s most expensive items was a Dodge Charger driven by Vin Diesel in the movie Fast X, which sold for 475,000 euros. Music performances are another major attraction during the dinner. Last year, Ciara opened the event, while Adam Lambert performed alongside Duran Duran, encouraging guests to sing along to popular songs including Notorious and A View to a Kill. Fashion also plays a major role at the gala. Last year, a James Bond-inspired fashion collection curated by Carine Roitfeld raised 450,000 euros for the charity. After dinner, the auction and live performances, guests head to the hotel’s poolside after-party, where celebrations continue until early morning.

Cannes Film Festival is becoming a major forum for debate over artificial intelligence, with filmmakers and industry leaders divided over whether the technology will help cinema evolve or threaten creative jobs. At this year’s festival, AI has emerged as one of the most discussed topics, reflecting growing concern over how the technology could reshape the global film industry. Scott Mann, co-chief executive of AI company Flawless, said the industry appears to be reaching a turning point. “It feels like a major shift,” he said, adding that AI could provide the technological boost the film business needs. AI is more visible than ever at Cannes this year. Meta has signed a multiyear partnership with the festival and set up a presence at the Majestic Hotel. Meta’s AI tools were also used in Steven Soderbergh’s documentary John Lennon: The Last Interview. The film explores a detailed interview that John Lennon and Yoko Ono gave on the day Lennon was killed in 1980. Soderbergh used AI to create surreal visuals to accompany the conversation. While some critics objected to the use of AI, Soderbergh said experimentation is necessary to understand the limits of the technology. Views at Cannes vary widely. Actor Demi Moore, a member of the festival jury, said resisting AI is likely to be futile. Filmmaker Peter Jackson compared AI to any other special effect, while director James Gray said AI may be useful but cannot replicate the depth of human emotion and creativity. Gray urged young people to study literature and the humanities to better understand human nature. The debate comes as Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recently introduced new rules stating that only performances actually given by human actors, with their consent, will be eligible for acting awards. At the same time, the Academy said the use of AI tools will neither help nor hurt a film’s Oscar chances. SAG-AFTRA has also reached a tentative agreement with studios to establish safeguards for the use of digital replicas and synthetic performers. Some developments have alarmed Hollywood, including the unveiling of Tilly Norwood, a fully AI-generated virtual actress, and a planned AI recreation of late actor Val Kilmer for a new film approved by his family. Kent Sanderson, CEO of Bleecker Street, said AI is likely to reduce production costs and make filmmaking more accessible. Cannes artistic director Thierry Frémaux said the festival supports artists and workers whose jobs could be affected by AI. He stressed the need for clear laws and regulations to ensure the technology is used responsibly. Mann agreed that unlicensed generative AI poses risks, but said the technology should not be viewed as a single, all-encompassing threat. He said AI, if used carefully and ethically, could help revitalize the film industry rather than replace the people who power it.

A palm tree fell on a man at the Cannes Film Festival who was walking along the Croisette on Saturday in the seaside French town. Authorities sped through festivalgoers to tend to the person who laid injured and bleeding on the sidewalk. No information was immediately available on their condition.  Trump and US administration used power for massacre in Gaza: Ayatollah Khamenei Representatives for the festival didn't immediately respond to requests for comment. The incident happened midday at the festival. Cannes, which runs until May 24, is about halfway through.  Poland votes for a new president Sunday as worries grow about the future

French actor Théo Navarro-Mussy has been barred from walking the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival due to accusations of rape and sexual assault—a first in the festival’s history. Navarro-Mussy stars in Dossier 137, directed by Dominik Moll, which premieres in competition on Thursday. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the actor has been accused of “rape, physical and psychological violence” by three former partners. A court dismissed the initial complaint last month, but the alleged victims have announced plans to pursue a civil case against him. Festival general delegate Thierry Frémaux said that he took the “unprecedented” step to exclude Navarro-Mussy from Thursday’s gala screening, in agreement with the film’s producers. Tom Cruise gets emotional as 'Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning' earns 5-minute ovation at Cannes Speaking to French outlet Télérama, Frémaux defended the decision, saying, “The case remains ongoing,” and added that the ban would be lifted if the case was dismissed or if Navarro-Mussy is found not guilty. The ban follows a separate development in France’s film industry this week, where veteran actor Gérard Depardieu received an 18-month suspended sentence after being found guilty of sexual assault—marking one of the country’s most prominent #MeToo cases to date.

The Cannes Film Festival has officially updated its dress code to ban full nudity and “excessively voluminous” outfits on the red carpet, aligning its policies with French law and longstanding festival protocol. The announcement comes after past red carpet incidents, including a topless protestor in 2022 and Bianca Censori’s transparent dress at the Grammys earlier this year, according to Variety. The festival clarified that the move is part of an effort to reinforce rules already in place. “This year, the Cannes Film Festival has made explicit in its charter certain rules that have long been in effect. The aim is not to regulate attire per se, but to prohibit full nudity on the red carpet, in accordance with the institutional framework of the event and French law,” the festival stated. Further, the guidelines mention that Cannes “reserves the right to deny access to individuals whose attire could obstruct the movement of other guests or complicate seating arrangements in the screening rooms.” Tom Cruise urges young actors to learn filmmaking craft While it remains unclear whether medium-sized gowns like Greta Gerwig’s Barbie-pink dress with a modest train would be restricted, larger trains have reportedly created congestion on the Palais steps and raised safety concerns. Cannes has previously sparked debate over its dress code. The requirement to wear “elegant” footwear for evening screenings was criticised for its apparent bias towards high heels — a point of contention among women guests. Although low heels are now generally allowed, sneakers remain frowned upon. In 2022, an Indigenous producer was reportedly turned away for wearing moccasins, reigniting concerns over cultural insensitivity and outdated norms at one of the film world’s most prestigious events.

The 78th Cannes Film Festival will feature new films by acclaimed directors Wes Anderson, Ari Aster, and Richard Linklater, all vying for the prestigious Palme d'Or, organizers revealed on Thursday. Following a successful 2024 edition that launched Oscar-winner Anora and award-season favorites like Emilia Pérez, The Substance, and The Apprentice, this year’s lineup is stacked with major auteurs. Cannes artistic director Thierry Frémaux and festival president Iris Knobloch made the announcement at a press event in Paris. Highlights of the competition include: Ari Aster’s Eddington, a pandemic-era Western starring Joaquin Phoenix, Pedro Pascal, and Emma Stone.Wes Anderson’s The Phoenician Scheme, featuring Benicio Del Toro as a European schemer.Richard Linklater’s Nouvelle Vague, a French-language film centered on Jean-Luc Godard and the French New Wave.Julia Ducournau, who became only the second woman ever to win Cannes’ top prize with 2021’s Titane, returns with Alpha, a drama set in 1980s New York about an 11-year-old whose parent has AIDS. Cannes regulars are also back: Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne, two-time Palme winners, bring Young Mothers.Joachim Trier re-enters the competition with Sentimental Value, reuniting with The Worst Person in the World star Renate Reinsve.Scarlett Johansson’s first film as a director, Eleanor the Great, will screen out of competition. Notably absent from the lineup are highly anticipated titles like Terrence Malick’s The Way of the Wind and Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another. Previously, it was announced that Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning will premiere at the festival. Tom Cruise, who received an honorary Palme d'Or in 2022, headlines the film. This year, Robert De Niro will be honored with the same award during the opening ceremony. Juliette Binoche will serve as jury president, following last year’s Greta Gerwig. This marks the first time in six decades that two women have consecutively led the Cannes jury. The festival will take place from May 13 to May 24.

After a canceled 2020 edition and a scaled back gathering last year, the Cannes Film Festival kicked off Tuesday with an eye turned to Russia’s war in Ukraine and a live satellite video address from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Formally attired stars including Eva Longoria, Julianne Moore, Bérénice Bejo and “No Time to Die” star Lashana Lynch were among those who streamed down Cannes’ famous red carpet Tuesday for the opening of the 75th Cannes Film Festival and the premiere of Michel Hazanavicius’ zombie comedy “Final Cut.” Also Read: Arefin Shuvo to attend Cannes film festival Tuesday More star-studded premieres — “Top Gun: Maverick!” “Elvis!” — await over the next 12 days, during which 21 films will vie for the festival’s prestigious top award, the Palme d’Or. But Tuesday’s opening and the carefully choreographed red-carpet parade leading up the steps to the Grand Théâtre Lumiére again restored one of the movies’ grandest pageants after two years of pandemic that have challenged the exalted stature Cannes annually showers on cinema. But the war in Ukraine was in Cannes’ spotlight Tuesday. During the festival’s opening ceremony, Zelenskyy spoke at length about the connection between cinema and reality, referencing films like Francis Ford Coppola’s “Apocalypse Now” and Charlie Chaplin’s “The Great Dictator” as not unlike Ukraine’s present circumstances.    

Popular film star Arifin Shuvo will leave Dhaka for Cannes on Tuesday to attend the 75th Cannes Film Festival. He will represent the trailer of the movie ‘Mujib’, based on the biography of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. In his reaction to the festival, Arifin Shuvo said, “It is very pleasant to me as I am going to Cannes for the first time. It feels to me like dream. I have got the chance to attend the festival. This is a big honour for me. I am grateful to my fans as everything has become possible for them. My love to them.” Cannes Film Festival will start on Tuesday (May 17). Actress Nusrat Imroz Tisha, who acted in the role of Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib, wife of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in the ‘Mujib’ film, and Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud might also go to the Cannes. Besides, the Indian information minister along with some team members of the film will also present. Mujib, film is co-produced by Bangladesh and India and directed by Shyam Benegal. It stars Arifin Shuvo leads the role of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Also read: World premiere of ‘Mujib Amar Pita’ held

Julia Ducournau’s “Titane,” a wild body-horror thriller featuring sex with a car and a surprisingly tender heart, won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, making Ducournau just the second female filmmaker to win the festival’s top honor in its 74 year history. The win on Saturday was mistakenly announced by jury president Spike Lee at the top of the closing ceremony, broadcast in France on Canal+, unleashing a few moments of confusion. Ducournau, a French filmmaker, didn’t come to the stage to accept the award until the formal announcement at the end of the ceremony. But the early hint didn’t diminish from her emotional response. “I’m sorry, I keep shaking my head,” said Ducournau, catching her breath. “Is this real? I don’t know why I’m speaking English right now because I’m French. This evening has been so perfect because it was not perfect.” Read Best Comedy Movies of All Time: Humour in Films through Century After several false starts, Lee implored Sharon Stone to make the Palme d’Or announcement, explaining: “She’s not going to mess it up.” The problems started earlier when Lee was asked to say which prize would be awarded first. Instead, he announced the evening’s final prize, as fellow juror Mati Diop plunged her head into her hands and others rushed to stop him. Lee, himself, spent several moments with his head in his hands before apologizing profusely for taking a lot of the suspense out of the evening. “I have no excuses,” Lee told reporters afterward. “I messed up. I’m a big sports fan. It’s like the guy at the end of the game who misses the free throw.” Read Rehana Maryam Noor is one of the most powerful films from South Asia: Anurag Kashyap “I messed up,” he added. “As simple as that.” Ducournau’s win was a long-awaited triumph. The only previous female filmmaker to win Cannes’ top honor — among the most prestigious awards in cinema — was Jane Campion for “The Piano” in 1993. In recent years, frustration at Cannes’ gender parity has grown, including in 2018, when 82 women — including Agnes Varda, Cate Blanchett and Salma Hayek — protested gender inequality on the Cannes red carpet. Their number signified the movies by female directors selected to compete for the Palme d’Or — 82 compared to 1,645 films directed by men. This year, four out of 24 films up for the Palme were directed by women. In 2019, another genre film — Bong Joon-Ho’s “Parasite” — took the Palme before going on to win best picture at the Academy Awards, too. That choice was said to be unanimous by the jury led by Alejandro González Iñárritu, but the award for “Titane” — an extremely violent film — this year’s jury said came out of a democratic process of conversation and debate. Juror Maggie Gyllenhaal said they didn’t agree unanimously on anything. Read  ‘Rehana Maryam Noor’ Review: The Bangladeshi movie screened in 74th Cannes Film Festival “The world is passion,” said Lee. “Everyone was passionate about a particular film they wanted and we worked it out.” In “Titane,” which like “Parasite” will be distributed in the U.S. by Neon, Agathe Rousselle plays a serial killer who flees home. As a child, a car accident leaves her with a titanium plate in her head and a strange bond with automobiles. In possibly the most-talked-about scene at the festival, she’s impregnated by a Cadillac. Lee called it a singular experience. “This is the first film ever where a Cadillac impregnates a woman,” said Lee, who said he wanted to ask Ducournau what year the car was. “That’s genius and craziness together. Those two things often match up.” Read Azmeri Haque Badhon: Starring the Title Role of 'Rehana Maryam Noor' Film Premiered in 74th Cannes On stage, Ducournau thanked the jury “for letting the monsters in.” Afterward, she acknowledged to reporters her place in history, but also said she “can’t be boiled down to just being a woman.” “Quite frankly, I hope that the prize I received has nothing to do with being a woman,” said Ducournau. “As I’m the second woman to receive this prize, I thought a lot about Jane Campion and how she felt when she won.” More women will come after her, Ducournau said. “There will be a third, there will be a fourth, there will be a fifth.” Read Dilip Kumar: Life History, Success Story of the Legendary Indian Film Star Cannes’ closing ceremony capped 12 days of red-carpet premieres, regular COVID-19 testing for many attendees and the first major film festival to be held since the pandemic began in almost its usual form. With smaller crowds and mandated mask-wearing in theaters, Cannes pushed forward with an ambitious slate of global cinema. Last year’s festival was completely canceled by the pandemic. The slate, assembled as a way to help stir movies after a year where movies shrank to smaller screens and red carpets grew cobwebs, was widely considered to be strong, and featured many leading international filmmakers. The awards were spread out widely. The grand prize was split between Asghar Farhadi’s Iranian drama “A Hero” and Finnish director Juho Kuosmanen’s “Compartment No. 6.” Read Abdullah Mohammad Saad: The Director of ‘Rehana Maryam Noor’ Best director was awarded to Leos Carax for “Annette,” the fantastical musical starring Adam Driver and Marion Cotillard that opened the festival. The award was accepted by the musical duo Sparks, Ron and Russell Mael, who wrote the script and music for the film. Jurors also split the jury prize. That was awarded to both Nadav Lapid’s “Ahed’s Knee,” an impassioned drama about creative freedom in modern Isreal; and to Thai filmmaker Apichatpong Weerasthakul’s “Memoria,” a meditative film starring Tilda Swinton. Caleb Landry Jones took home the best actor prize for his performance as an Australian mass killer in the fact-based “Nitram” by Justin Kurzel. Renate Reinsve won best actress for Joachim Trier’s “The Worst Person in the World.” Best screenplay went to Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s “Drive My Car,” a Haruki Murakami adaptation he penned with Takamasa Oe. Read Asia in Cannes: Spotlight on Asian Movies in 74th Cannes Film Festival The Croatian coming-of-age drama “Murina,” by Antoneta Alamat Kusijanović, took the Camera d’Or award, a non-jury prize, for best first feature. Kusijanović was absent from the ceremony after giving birth a day earlier. Lee was the first Black jury president at Cannes. His fellow jury members were: Gyllenhaal, Mélanie Laurent, Song Kang-ho, Tahar Rahim, Mati Diop, Jessica Hausner, Kleber Mendonça Filho and Mylène Farmer. Read Best Movies Preview: The Anticipation on the Run for Cannes Film Festival 2021

An individual has to make diverse decisions throughout life. When a person stays firm about a decision knowing that he will have to pay the ultimate price in the future, the person has to be at his strongest. Rehana Maryam Noor is such a stubborn character. Written and directed by Abdullah Mohammad Saad, Rehana Maryam Noor has made history by representing Bangladesh in the 'Un Certain Regard' section at the Cannes International Film Festival. 'Rehana Maryam Noor (2021)' Movie Review Although Rehana is the main character in the movie, the story revolves around the harassment of her student, Annie.  In whose name the movie, Rehana Maryam Noor is a single mother of a 6-year-old girl. Raising a daughter alone, taking care of father, mother, and brother, raising expenses - all she has to do single-handedly. Nevertheless, such people have to be strong! But we see how persistent she is as she always wears her husband's watch. Read Rehana Maryam Noor screened at Cannes amid standing ovation Rehana is a 37-year-old- medical college teacher. To prove the insistence of this medical college teacher, the director showed that she was sitting next to the student to catch cheating in the exam hall, and she became successful in that too. The talented director Saad depicted all these small but meaningful incidents to create the context of the story.